QUB Canvas Roadmap AY2020/21

The QUB Canvas Roadmap allows Faculties to review, validate and prioritise requests raised by their staff members. A prioritisation exercise is currently being conducted by Faculties.  Once completed, this page will be updated with details of how you can suggest enhancements to the platform.

Note: The QUB Canvas Roadmap is replacing the previous ‘Feature Request’ process, a pilot carried out with Early Adopters of Canvas at Queen’s to enable them to suggest enhancements to the Canvas platform. Lessons learned from this pilot have been used to overhaul the process with approval from the University Governance Groups.

QUB Canvas Roadmap can be categorised into three areas:

  • Request for 3rd party Tool Integrations
  • Suggestions for Enhancements
  • Supplier Enhancements

Click on the tabs directly below for details:

Canvas is built for adaptability. It is possible to build upon existing functionality by integrating 3rd party tools and applications which support teaching, learning and assessment. Such integrations enable additional functionality within Canvas Courses. An integration request process is in place to ensure the integrity of Canvas VLE is not compromised by the introduction of 3rd party tools. Each external application has its own unique configuration which is required to comply with GDPR policies. A review of integration requests is required in order to determine whether it it feasible to integrate with the VLE.

The timeframe to complete a request depends upon the complexity of the integration and the level of risk that comes with introducing the 3rd party tool into the VLE. The request process is sequential and follows the stages outlined below:

Integration Request Process:
  • Request: User submits request for use
  • Review: A number of areas are reviewed and approved by Governance channels (i.e. GDPR compliance, licensing cost, accessibility, terms of use, support available)
  • Testing: Tool is installed into Test environment, scripts created, and test completed to confirm if the tool meets requirements.
  • Decision: Tool is approved / not approved by Governance Channels
  • Final Review: Documentation evaluated, Training provided (by School / Supplier), testing in live environment completed.


Table 1: Available Integrations

TOOL
DESCRIPTION
STAKEHOLDER
STATUS
Turnitin
Plagiarism checking tool
University
Implemented for use throughout the University
Office365
Access to suite of Microsoft tools including Word and Excel
University
Implemented for use throughout the University
Learning Science
Provides access to lab simulations, quizzes and content for specific subjects
MHLS/Chemistry
Implemented for use – content covers areas which require practical ‘lab’ experience
Mediasite
For editing and storage of videos / media content
University
Implemented for use throughout the University
McGraw-Hill
Provides educational content and quizzes for Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences
In progress – Queries regarding GDPR

Table 2: In Progress

TOOL
DESCRIPTION
STAKEHOLDER
STATUS
Blackboard Ally
Accessibility checker for content within Canvas - required to meet legislation
University
In progress - elements have been rolled out
Respondus
Lockdown browser for undertaking online quizzes in a controlled setting (ON CAMPUS ONLY)
University
On Hold – held up by Coronavirus Pandemic

Table 3: Not Available

TOOL
DESCRIPTION
STAKEHOLDER
STATUS
Questionmark
Tool for conducting and grading quizzes
University
Not Implemented - Failed on testing
DropBox
Tool for file storage
AHSS
Not secure, data held in US. OneDrive available
Mashme
Conferencing tool
EPS
Tool no longer in use by School
Geogebra
Math tool for graphing, geometry etc.
NBE
No longer required
Redirect Tool
Allows for redirecting of URL's
NBE
No longer required

A number of suggestions for enhancements to Canvas VLE have been submitted by staff in Queen’s. These are all enhancements to the platform which require development from Instructure (Canvas Supplier) followed by a period of testing by DLS System Support Team at Queen's. We will continue to monitor these requests and liaise with Instructure regarding development of functionality to address these. This page will be updates as and when information becomes available.

  • Request: User submits idea for improvement to Canvas
  • Review / Raise with Instructure: Idea is reviewed to see if functionality available / there are alternative options available. The idea will be raised with Instructure and the link made available here for colleagues to vote on.
  • Testing: Functionality or alternative options will be tested to
  • Final Review: Documentation evaluated, users trained, testing in live environment carried out.
  • Decision: Functionality is approved / not approved for QUB Instance of Canvas


Table 1: Suggestions Made Available

SUGGESTION
DESCRIPTION
STAKEHOLDER
STATUS
Student Photos (Report)
Report showing student photos along with names
EPS
Report provided via Qsis self service
SCORM enabled
Enable SCORM so content developed using this can be put into Canvas
EPS
SCORM has been enabled
Module duplicate title differentiation
Differentiate modules with the same title including A/Y
AHSS / EPS
Module titles pulled in from Qsis edited to show academic year and term
Single link to resource repository
Provide a single link to library resources held on QoL
EPS / AHSS
User directed to process in place with Library Services
Tailoring notifications per course (QUB module)
Allow notifications to be personalised per course and not per user
EPS
This has been developed and is available to users
Warning re: deleting assignments from calendar
Provide a warning that deleting assignments from the calendar deletes the actual assignment
EPS
Warning pop up added
Sign up for meetings
Allow students to self sign up to meeting slots
AHSS
Functionality available
Request for personal tutor scheme in Canvas
Request to use Canvas for additional services
OTHER
Additional reporting / analytics request
Turn on Analytics 2
EPS
Analytics 2 switched on and additional reporting created
Bcc emails / Email addresses
Request to include Bcc function / provide Email addresses
UNIVERSITY
Users informed this is not an e-mail function, it’s internal messaging to Canvas. Instructed on how to obtain e-mail address list
Assignments tick box
Tick box to agree to terms and conditions
AHSS
Agreed with user a statement would be used instead of waiting on development.

Table 2: Suggestions not Implemented

SUGGESTION
DESCRIPTION
STAKEHOLDER
STATUS
Student Test Accounts / Student View
Create 'real' test students
EPS
Test students are created by information services, having these additional students would create issues such as licensing / maintenance in other systems etc.
Sub Accounts
Request for Admin level access for sub account
EPS
Admin access for sub account cannot be fulfilled
Access to modules & creation of departmental course pages
Request access to create modules as and when desired
AHSS
Rejected as this information is pulled from Qsis and would become unwieldly to support
Message system signatures
Request to allow signatures to be added to messaging system (as with outlook etc.)
AHSS
Instructure informed they will not be making developments to this area in the foreseeable

Instructure release a number of new functionalities periodically. Please click the link to view the upcoming releases expected in the next few months: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Roadmap/ct-p/roadmap

Contact Details

For further information on the process at Faculty level please e-mail your local representatives with “Canvas Roadmap” in the subject at:

AHSS: Richard Summerville & Laura Farling  AHSS.eLearning@qub.ac.uk

EPS: Dan Corbett & Tom Dore epsconnectedlearning@qub.ac.uk

MHLS: Marian Traynor & Maurice Hall (e-mail TBC)